Contact
  • HOME
  • / MEDIA /
  • This AAPI Female-Run Startup Pioneers Accessible and Affordable Photography

Stories

July 19, 2024

SHARE:

Photography is not just about capturing images. For some, it can be about preserving memories, telling stories, and expressing emotions.

In today’s visually-driven world, high-quality photography has become more important than ever, yet it often remains out of reach for many due to its high costs.

Enter Shoott, an AAPI female-run startup co-founded by Jennifer Tsay and Jennifer Yeh, redefining photography with an innovative, affordable approach. Their pay-per-photo model offers free 30-minute sessions, allowing clients to pay only for the photos they love, creating a win-win situation for both photographers and clients.

Jennifer Yeh (left) and Jennifer Tsay (right) co-founded Shoott after recognizing the financial struggles many photographers face in the gig economy.

In June 2018, they tested this idea in New York City, and it worked. Clients loved the convenience and affordability, and photographers appreciated the improved logistics and reduced travel time. The company grew rapidly during the pandemic, expanding to over 60 cities in the US and increasing revenue from $807K in 2019 to $9MM in 2023.

In an exclusive interview with Asian Hustle Network, Jennifer Tsay shared Shoott’s inspiring journey, the challenges they faced, and their vision for the future.

The Inspiration Behind Shoott

As an actor and creative, Jennifer Tsay saw firsthand how most artists struggle because their lives are gig to gig. You may have one gig a week, two in totally different places, or sometimes none at all. This led them to develop a business model with two complementary goals:

  • Goal #1: Improve logistics for the photographer.
  • Goal #2: Create a hard-to-resist offer for clients.

This blossomed into Shoott’s unique model which offers free photo sessions with clients only paying for the photos they want, and photographers benefiting from Shoott handling all marketing, scheduling, and logistics on top of a minimum hourly rate plus commissions.

A joyful family of four poses together, captured by Shoott

Early Challenges and Indicators of Success

Starting Shoott came with the typical hurdles of first-time entrepreneurship. The team had to learn quickly, constantly test hypotheses, and maintain strict alignment on goals. They also faced skepticism from photographers who feared exploitation. Shoott navigated this by ensuring transparency and creating a model where photographers’ earnings were directly tied to the company’s success. Positive client feedback and growing demand confirmed they were on the right track, with Shoott maintaining a 4.8 star rating on Google and expanding to over 60 cities in the US.

Staying Relevant in a Changing Industry

Shoott stays ahead by engaging with photographer communities, reading industry trends, and listening to feedback from clients and photographers. This constant evolution helps Shoott remain relevant and meet the changing tastes and demands of its clientele.

According to Tsay, “It’s also crucial to always stay sharp on what’s trending on social media in terms of tastes and demand. What do people like? What do people value? What are people trying to convey about themselves? This has so many implications for what we provide as a service and also how we approach our brand as a whole – to run a brand is to be continually evolving!”

Community Impact and Contributions

Shoott’s mission is twofold:

  • To support freelance photographers in the community by providing a reliable source of supplemental income so artists can stay artists if they so desire; and
  • To help people in the community capture their life moments both big and small with a beautiful and affordable photography service. 

“We truly hope our offer creates more demand for professional photography – anything we can do to promote and normalize the habitual support of artists is a major win in our book!” Tsay shared.

A Memorable Client Story

One touching story comes from Lydia, a solo parent who praised Shoott for capturing authentic moments with her daughter. Despite financial constraints, Shoott’s affordable model allowed Lydia to obtain high-quality photos that she otherwise couldn’t afford.

Diversity and Inclusion

Shoott is an AAPI female-run startup that prioritizes diversity and inclusion. They ensure varied representation in their marketing and hire team members from diverse backgrounds. Understanding the different personal commitments of their team, Shoott offers a flexible work environment, accommodating various needs while ensuring dedication to the job.

Personal Rewards

When Shoott started, their primary goal was to see if they could create a business model to balance all parties and create an ultimate win-win-win for clients, photographers, and staff. “We didn’t know if we could do it, but we had to try,” Tsay shared.

“What’s been personally rewarding is to see that we could start with this really ambitious goal and actually make it a reality. It sounds nuts to be able to make a business that offers free photo sessions work, but we just achieved profitability last year for the first time. It’s so gratifying to see that when we put our minds to something, we can make things work. And on top of that, we provide a service that is fundamentally about gratitude and love – how many people can say that?”

Shoott co-founders Jennifer Yeh (left) and Jennifer Tsay (right), celebrating their journey from an ambitious goal to a profitable reality, provide a service centered on gratitude and love for all parties involved.

Message from Jen and Jen

In addition to our free 30 minute consumer offer, we’re so proud to be building out our headshot and branding offer for teams, organizations, and conferences. We realized how many people hate having their photo taken and we wanted to provide a fun and empowering experience for folks while delivering high quality photos to support their endeavors. If your team is in the market for new and affordable headshots, please let us know!

Connect with Shoott

IG: @shoottphotos

TikTok: @shoottphotos 

Facebook: Shoott

LinkedIn: Shoott

Related Articles

1

Stories

A $38M Startup Exit That Rarely Happens in Vietnam: How Skinetiq Founder Hannah Nguyen Built a Trust-First Beauty Brand and Landed a Deal with Marico

Big exits in Vietnam’s startup scene are rare, but Hannah Nguyen proved they’re possible with the right foundation.

Long before Skinetiq became a multi-million-dollar brand, her journey started with a simple curiosity for beauty.

What followed was a business built not just on products, but on trust, community, and systems that scale.

Image Source: The Business Times

Starting With Trust

Hannah Nguyen’s story began on a rural coffee farm, where she experimented with making lipstick from berries using whatever she had on hand. That early curiosity grew into a strong passion for beauty, shaping how she approached products and people. It became the foundation of how she would later build her brand.

As she shared her journey online, she built a loyal community that trusted her voice. In a market like Vietnam where counterfeit products are common, that trust became her biggest edge. Instead of following trends, she focused on being real, which helped her turn followers into customers.

Image Source: Vietnam Investment Review

Growing Into a Real Business

Rather than continuing to sell other brands, Skinetiq chose to create its own skincare line. By solving real customer problems, the brand reached $16.5 million in revenue and proved strong demand. This step helped shift the business from content-driven sales to a product-focused company.

At the same time, Skinetiq built systems that allowed the business to run without relying on Hannah every day. This made the company more stable and easier to scale over time. That independence attracted Marico, leading to a majority stake deal at a $38 million valuation and showing how creators can build businesses that last.

  • 2 min read
1-jpg

Stories

How China’s Anta Became Puma’s Largest Shareholder and the World’s No. 3 Sportswear Giant Behind Nike and Adidas

China’s Anta Sports is making a bold global move, stepping beyond its home market with a major investment in Puma.

The company acquired a 29 percent stake in the German sportswear brand in a $1.8 billion deal, becoming Puma’s largest shareholder.

This signals Anta’s growing ambition to compete head-to-head with the biggest names in the global sportswear industry.

Image Source: Yicai Global

From Small Workshop to Global Brand

Anta’s journey began in 1986 when founder Ding Shizong, a high school dropout from Fujian, borrowed 10,000 yuan from his father to start reselling shoes. After quickly turning a profit, he reinvested his earnings and built a small manufacturing workshop. This early hustle laid the foundation for what would become one of China’s biggest sportswear companies.

By 1991, Anta had officially launched its own brand and began expanding across China. Over time, the company focused on scaling production, improving product quality, and building strong local distribution. These efforts helped Anta grow from a small business into a global brand with a strong foothold in the sportswear market.

Image Source: CGTN

Competing With the World’s Biggest Brands

Today, Anta controls around 23 percent of China’s sportswear market, surpassing both Nike and Adidas within the country. Its dominance at home has helped fuel its rise on the global stage, where it now ranks as the third-largest sportswear company. This growth reflects both strong local demand and strategic expansion beyond China.

Founder Ding Shizong has made it clear that Anta’s vision goes beyond being a regional leader. Rather than becoming the “Nike of China,” he aims to build what he calls the “Anta of the world.” With its recent investment in Puma, the company is taking a major step toward that goal and solidifying its place among the industry’s global giants.

  • 2 min read
image-png

News

Why Bhutan is the Smartest Place for Founders and Entrepreneurs to Reset in 2026

Most founders today are running on packed schedules but feeling mentally drained, and burnout is quietly becoming part of the routine.

When everything feels urgent, there is barely any space left to think — and decisions made from pressure rarely lead anywhere worth going.

That is exactly where Bhutan comes in. Its slower pace and untouched stillness create the kind of environment that gives ambitious minds the room to pause, reflect, and return with sharper focus.

The Philosophy That Reframes Success

Bhutan approaches progress differently, placing equal importance on well-being and growth. Through its Gross National Happiness framework, the country measures success beyond economic output, and recent data shows that over 93% of the population falls within the happiness gradient. This perspective is not theoretical, it is reflected in how people live and make decisions every day.

You start to notice it in small but meaningful ways, like how conversations are not rushed and how people are fully present. There is a steady rhythm to daily life that feels intentional rather than pressured. That alone creates a different kind of mental space.

For founders and entrepreneurs, being in that environment naturally raises questions about what really drives their decisions. It becomes easier to see how much of leadership is shaped by urgency rather than purpose. That shift in awareness is often where real clarity begins.

The Travel Model That Guards Your Headspace

Bhutan keeps tourism at a manageable level, which helps protect both the experience and the environment. In 2025, the country welcomed nearly 210,000 visitors, a number that is intentionally kept low compared to other destinations. As a result, places feel calm and never overcrowded.

There is also a Sustainable Development Fee of about USD 100 per night, which supports conservation and local communities. This approach ensures that tourism grows in a way that does not take away from what makes Bhutan special. It also sets the tone for a more thoughtful way of traveling.

Because of this model, the pace of each trip feels more balanced and unhurried. Days are not tightly packed, which gives you time to take in each experience without feeling rushed. For founders and entrepreneurs, that space often becomes the most valuable part of the journey.

The Environment That Resets How You Think

Bhutan’s landscapes make it easy to slow down without trying too hard. In places like the Phobjikha Valley, the wide open views and quiet surroundings create a sense of calm that is hard to find elsewhere. Even visiting Tiger’s Nest requires a steady climb, which naturally shifts your pace and focus.

There is no constant noise pulling your attention in different directions. Instead, the stillness gives your mind room to settle and process things more clearly. It is often in these quiet moments that new ideas begin to form.

Over time, you notice a change in how you think and respond to things. Decisions feel less rushed and more intentional, which is something many founders and entrepreneurs struggle to achieve in their usual environment. By the end of the trip, the reset feels real and something you can carry with you.

If you are looking for a reset that goes beyond rest and actually changes how you think, explore Bhutan with Druk Asia here:

📍Website

  • 3 min read
unnamed-png

Stories

The Journey of 20-Year-Old Alex Eala to the WTA Top 50 After Taking Down the Biggest Names in Women’s Tenn

At just 20 years old, Alex Eala is emerging as one of the most exciting new forces in women’s tennis. The Filipina athlete has captured global attention after defeating some of the sport’s most established champions.

In a sport historically dominated by Western powers, Eala’s rapid climb is a major milestone for Asian representation in tennis. Her growing success signals a shift in the global landscape of the sport.

Image Source: SCMP

A Breakthrough That Turned Heads in Miami

Eala’s breakthrough moment came at the 2025 Miami Open, where she entered the tournament as a wildcard. Few expected the young Filipina to make a deep run, but she quickly stunned the field with a series of commanding victories.

During the tournament, Eala defeated multiple Grand Slam champions, including Iga Świątek, Madison Keys, and Jeļena Ostapenko. She later added a win over Coco Gauff, further proving she could compete against the very best in the sport.

Her run to the semifinals became one of the biggest stories of the tournament. It pushed her ranking into the WTA Top 100 and introduced her to a much wider global audience.

Image Source: DZRH

Climbing Into the WTA Top 50

Following her breakout performance, Eala continued to build momentum throughout the season. Strong results in several tournaments helped her steadily climb the rankings and establish herself among the sport’s rising contenders.

By the end of the year, Eala officially entered the WTA Top 50, becoming the first Filipina player to reach that milestone. The achievement marked a historic moment not only for Philippine tennis but also for Southeast Asian representation in the sport.

More than just a personal accomplishment, her rise is inspiring a new generation of young athletes across Asia. As she continues to compete on the world stage, Alex Eala’s journey shows how talent, discipline, and opportunity can reshape the future of global tennis.

  • 2 min read